Multiple antenna arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus comprising includes first and second radio frequency circuitry configured for operation at least in one or more first and second radio frequency bands, respectively; and first and second antenna arrangements configured for operation in the one or more first and second radio frequency bands, respectively. The apparatus also includes first and second radio frequency coupling for transferring of a signal between the first and second antenna arrangements, respectively, and the first and second radio frequency circuitry, respectively. The apparatus further includes a controller for assessing whether a signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry and, in dependence upon the assessment, for transferring the signal therebetween, via a frequency converter configured to enable, for the signal, frequency conversion between the one or more second radio frequency bands and the one or more first radio frequency bands.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 first radio frequency circuitry configured for operation at least in one or more first radio frequency bands; 
 second radio frequency circuitry configured for operation at least in one or more second radio frequency bands; 
 a first antenna arrangement configured for operation in the one or more first radio frequency bands; 
 a second antenna arrangement configured for operation in the one or more second radio frequency bands; 
 a first radio frequency coupling for transferring of a signal between the first antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry; 
 a second radio frequency coupling for transferring of a signal between the second antenna arrangement and the first second frequency circuitry; and 
 a controller for assessing whether a signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry and, in dependence upon the assessment, for transferring the signal between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via a frequency converter configured to enable, for the signal, frequency conversion between the one or more second radio frequency bands and the one or more first radio frequency bands. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to assess whether the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry in dependence upon a bandwidth of the signal and/or a sub carrier spacing of the signal. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to assess that the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry only when a required bandwidth of the signal does not exceed 100 MHz and a required sub carrier spacing of the signal does not exceed 60 kHz. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to assess whether the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry in dependence upon an availability of the first radio frequency circuitry for the signal. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , configured as user equipment. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to transfer control channel signals between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to transfer signals for an initial access procedure between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter or configured to transfer signals during a Radio Resource Control Idle state between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to cause transfer of signals for: paging, or measurement for cell or beam selection, or for user equipment to network notification, between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to switch an assessment that a data communications signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry to an assessment that the data communications signal cannot be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, and configured to switch within or between time periods, in dependence upon the assessment, from transferring the signal between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter to transferring the signal between the second antenna arrangement and the second radio frequency circuitry. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to transfer signals for clear channel assessment between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to assess whether a signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry in dependence upon: a battery level of the apparatus; or generated heat at the apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to control at least a bandwidth of a signal required for a service such that the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  configured to cause transfer of multiple signals between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry to augment receiver channels available via the second radio frequency circuitry. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to move the second radio frequency circuitry to a low-power consumption mode while transferring the signal between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via a frequency converter. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 assessing whether a signal can be transferred between a first radio frequency circuitry, configured for operation in one or more first radio frequency bands and a second antenna arrangement, configured for operation in one or more second radio frequency bands that are different to the one or more first radio frequency bands; and, 
 in dependence upon the assessment: 
 (i) transferring the signal between a second radio frequency circuitry configured for operation in one or more second radio frequency bands and the second antenna arrangement; or 
 (iii) transferring the signal between the first radio frequency circuitry and the second antenna arrangement, via a frequency converter configured to enable, for the signal, frequency conversion between the one or more second radio frequency bands and the one or more first radio frequency bands. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising assessing whether the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry in dependence upon a bandwidth of the signal and/or a sub carrier spacing of the signal. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising assessing that the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry only when a required bandwidth of the signal does not exceed 100 MHz and a required sub carrier spacing of the signal does not exceed 60 kHz. 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising assessing whether the signal can be transferred between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry in dependence upon an availability of the first radio frequency circuitry for the signal. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising transferring control channel signals between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter. 
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising transferring signals for an initial access procedure between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter or transferring signals during a Radio Resource Control Idle state between the second antenna arrangement and the first radio frequency circuitry, via the frequency converter.